Building Your Personal Insurance Policy: Questions to Ask (1 of 2)

Have you reached that point in your life when it’s time to purchase or update your home, car and other personal insurance policies?

While there are many factors that contribute to building a personal policy, by taking a proactive approach in working with your insurance agent, you can ensure that all bases are covered.

Tips from a Pro

Miller’s personal lines agent, Bryan Gift, has been in the insurance industry for 12 years. He has been a part of the Miller’s team for almost nine years, working closely with individuals and families to build personal insurance policies that provide proper protection and work within their financial situations.

Bryan believes that each customer’s situation in life is different, and their policies should be tailor-made to meet their custom needs.

From his personal experience as an independent insurance agent, Bryan commonly gets questions like, “What am I covered for?” and “What is my deductible?”

In our two part series, Bryan discusses taking the discovery process a step further, by proactively asking questions that will impact your final package, and offering the details that are unique to your circumstance.

Below are several questions relating to auto coverage that Bryan recommends asking your independent insurance agent:

Auto Insurance Questions:

• What are my liability limits for bodily injury?

Consider all possible scenarios you may face when on the road, such as unforeseeable car accidents. 

• What are my tort options?

For Pennsylvania residents, customers must know the difference between full and limited tort as part of the state’s auto insurance laws, and their eligibility to sue. 

• What are your multi-policy discounts?

Some independent insurance agencies offer customer discounts if they bundle coverages together, so it’s worth checking with your agent. 

• What are the pros and cons of a higher deductible?

Knowing your financial situation is important when reviewing deductible options, so make sure to talk through both sides before deciding.

• What is rental reimbursement?

This is an important element to auto coverage, and something not every agent may explain in detail without you asking first.

• What is the best carrier that meets my needs, especially in the event of an accident or making a claim?

Working with an independent insurance agent gives you the opportunity to review options from multiple carriers, but do your homework on the carriers with the best products, reputations and claims services.

Rather than be intimidated, customers can approach the insurance process armed with the knowledge needed to reach the best policy. Being a part of this process enables customers to reduce the stress involved in finding coverage, and can also help them save time, money and unexpected issues that could occur over the life of the policy.

Most importantly, Bryan urges customers to continue to ask your insurance agent these questions at different stages in life. Whether it’s time to renew, or you’ve experienced important changes that will impact your coverage needs, your insurance should be adjusted to reflect these updates.

What’s important to you?

What other questions are important to ask your agent when purchasing personal insurance? What else can independent agents, like Bryan, do to assist you on choosing the best personal insurance coverages?

View part 2 of the series to learn more about home insurance policies.

Additional Resources:

• 5 Questions to Ask Your Insurance Agent, Insure.com
• Questions to Ask Your Insurance Agents, Suite101.com

Call a Miller’s Insurance Agent Direct: (610) 269-4500

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